Thursday, September 13, 2012

Once were weeds, now superfoods

What makes a plant a weed? The definition is subjective and very much
dependent on context but if it's of a hardy nature, invasive and nobody
really likes it very much, greenery is more likely to be viewed as a
pest than premium growth.

But once a weed, not always a weed. Some traditionally undesirable flora
have been rebranded of late as easy-to-grow brain boosters, cancer
fighters and natural antibiotics.

Dandelion - the Cancer Fighter

Commonly regarded as a pesky weed, Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is now the subject of countless scientific studies investigating its ability to fight cancer.

Dandelion is a perennial plant with jagged, bright green leaves to 30cm
long, a hollow flower stem to 30cm and one terminal yellow daisy.

It's rich in vitamins A, B complex, C and D, minerals including iron,
potassium and zinc, and has been used for centuries in traditional
Native American and Chinese medicine.

In recent years, medical studies have found evidence that
dandelion either suppresses or decreases the growth of several kinds of
cancer, including leukaemia, breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Dandelion is also a key ingredient in liver cleansing formulas because
it stimulates the flow of bile from the liver and helps to break down
liver fats.

Young dandelion leaves and flower petals can be used in salads,
steamed, or added to stir-fries. For dandelion leaf tea, add boiling
water to six broad, tender dandelion leaves, let stand for 10 minutes
and add a little sweetener. Dandelion roots can be roasted to make a
caffeine-free coffee substitute.

Gotu Kola - the Pharmaceutical flower

Gotu
kola (Centella asiatica), also known as Asian pennywort, is a perennial
with small kidney-shaped leaves that is commonly found in warmer parts
of Australia. It has been shown to boost brain function and is effective
in treating wounds and varicose veins.

It has been used for thousands of years in India and China to improve
mental clarity, heal wounds and treat respiratory infections, according
to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM).

Gotu kola is commonly used today to treat varicose veins and
chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where blood vessels lose their
elasticity, causing blood to pool in the legs, which then become
swollen.

Gotu kola also contains compounds called triterpenoids, which have been
shown to help heal wounds. "Some studies suggest that triterpenoids
strengthen the skin, boost antioxidants in wounds and increase blood
supply to the area," says UMM. "Based on these findings, gotu kola has
been applied to the skin, or topically, for minor burns, psoriasis,
preventing scars after surgery, and preventing or reducing
stretchmarks."

Gotu kola has no equal in the treatment of general debility and decline, says Isabell Shipard in her comprehensive guidebook, 'How Can I Use Herbs In My Daily Life?'

"It is one of the most important rejuvenating herbs, particularly valued
for revitalising nerve and brain cells, improving reflexes, helping
digestion and promoting calmness," says Sunshine Coast-based Shipard.
"It's also a herb that students have used for renewing mental alertness
and energy levels without the ‘jitteriness' some people may experience
with coffee."

Shipard believes every person can benefit from taking gotu kola. "Start
with eating two to three leaves 3cm in diameter, then, if desired and
after several weeks, increase to five or six leaves.

Nasturtium - the Fast-Acting Natural antibiotoic

Nasturtium (Tropaelum majus), once a scorned weed but these days
described as a "vigorous ground sprawler" is a hardy flowering plant
from the mustard family and a fast-acting natural antibiotic.

Nasturtium’s peppery-tasting, saucer-shaped leaves and its
brightly-coloured, trumpet-shaped flowers are both high in vitamin C and
also contain vitamins B1, B2 and B3, as well as iron, calcium,
phosphorus and manganese.

The oils of the nasturtium plant contain carotenoids and flavionoids -
compounds that have been shown to boost the immune system and protect
against carcinogens.

A combination of extracts from nasturtium and horseradish root
was found to be effective in treating urinary tract infection (UTI),
according to a 2006 study published in the Arzneimittel-Forschung
journal. The study found that volatile mustard oils from the
two plants killed or inhibited the growth of microorganisms like
bacteria and were an effective treatment for both UTI and upper
respiratory infections.